Friday, May 18, 2012
I'm Alive, Just Busy
Much to write. Little time. Life continues to be good in general. Talk with you soon. Thanks for reading.
Tuesday, May 01, 2012
The Church of Dear Abby?
SOMEWHERE IN THE U.S.A. wrote into Dear Abby:
According to the Bible, sex is for marriage, and marriage unites a man and woman. Sex outside of marriage is a sin. There are many other sins. We all sin. We've all fallen short of the glory of God. The wages of sin is death. Jesus Christ provides reconciliation, dying for our sins in our place, exxchanging our sin for His righteousness so that followers of Christ have enternal fellowship with a holy God. Ultimately, it isn't about someone's feelings or whether or not they engage in homosexual behavior. Is Jesus Christ their Lord and Savior? Have they repented so that they say His will is right, even when it conflicts with their own feelings and desires?
Dear Abby responded:
The bottom line is to be loving and polite towards your son. Being loving does not mean you have to abandon your moral convictions and beliefs; being loving should be part of your beliefs and morality. If he demands that you approve of his behavior and you don’t approve of it, say something like "I won’t let this come between us. Please show me the same love and respect."Behavior is a choice, and nobody knows more than the ultimate Author of the Bible.If it is based on our character, none of us make it. Jesus Christ's character is the only pefect human character. Dear Abby is basing her belief on... what... exactly?This is exactly the thing you should talk to your pastor about. Dear Abby doesn't determine who goes to heaven – God does.It's called... Bible study. There's no shortage of good information on how to read the Bible, even if you go to a church that doesn't teach it (if so, find a different church). It isn't like any other book you might find. There are many literary styles used, after all. Check out the resources listed on this page, and you might want to read this booklet.You are making the assumption that God created someone to be that way, and that God turns His back on people who go to Hell."Some religious people" You can find "some religious people" to say anything. "Some religious people" say that if you send them money, you will automatically get a hundreds of times as much money back. People can say all sorts of wrong things. Some religious people have people hand over their little daughters to be raped Some religious people fly airliners into skyscrapers. That someone claims to be "religious" tells me nothing about them.As people, since they are. But why would anyone write in to Dear Abby for insight into God?That's great. And it is great that you have other children to continue the family line, if you care about that.I'm sorry. Not that he came out of the closet, but that he identifies as a homosexual. That obviously isn't easy for him or for you.
My son came out of the closet last year.
I love him dearly and we're a close family. His brothers and sisters also accept and love him.
My husband and I are now struggling because we're not sure how God really views gays and lesbians.
To listen to some religious people, my son will go to hell.
I can't believe that God would create a person to be this way, then turn His back on him.
I tried reading the Bible, but the wording was hard to understand.
I don't want to talk to my pastor about it because, even though I have accepted my son for who he is, I still have trouble talking to people about it because I'm not sure how they'll react. Do you believe a gay person will go to heaven?
According to the Bible, sex is for marriage, and marriage unites a man and woman. Sex outside of marriage is a sin. There are many other sins. We all sin. We've all fallen short of the glory of God. The wages of sin is death. Jesus Christ provides reconciliation, dying for our sins in our place, exxchanging our sin for His righteousness so that followers of Christ have enternal fellowship with a holy God. Ultimately, it isn't about someone's feelings or whether or not they engage in homosexual behavior. Is Jesus Christ their Lord and Savior? Have they repented so that they say His will is right, even when it conflicts with their own feelings and desires?
Dear Abby responded:
I believe that entrance to heaven is based upon a person's character, not his or her sexual orientation.
Today, because of modern scientific studies, we know more about homosexuality than was known when the Bible was written, and that sexual orientation is not a "choice."
The bottom line is to be loving and polite towards your son. Being loving does not mean you have to abandon your moral convictions and beliefs; being loving should be part of your beliefs and morality. If he demands that you approve of his behavior and you don’t approve of it, say something like "I won’t let this come between us. Please show me the same love and respect."Behavior is a choice, and nobody knows more than the ultimate Author of the Bible.If it is based on our character, none of us make it. Jesus Christ's character is the only pefect human character. Dear Abby is basing her belief on... what... exactly?This is exactly the thing you should talk to your pastor about. Dear Abby doesn't determine who goes to heaven – God does.It's called... Bible study. There's no shortage of good information on how to read the Bible, even if you go to a church that doesn't teach it (if so, find a different church). It isn't like any other book you might find. There are many literary styles used, after all. Check out the resources listed on this page, and you might want to read this booklet.You are making the assumption that God created someone to be that way, and that God turns His back on people who go to Hell."Some religious people" You can find "some religious people" to say anything. "Some religious people" say that if you send them money, you will automatically get a hundreds of times as much money back. People can say all sorts of wrong things. Some religious people have people hand over their little daughters to be raped Some religious people fly airliners into skyscrapers. That someone claims to be "religious" tells me nothing about them.As people, since they are. But why would anyone write in to Dear Abby for insight into God?That's great. And it is great that you have other children to continue the family line, if you care about that.I'm sorry. Not that he came out of the closet, but that he identifies as a homosexual. That obviously isn't easy for him or for you.
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